Improvement in circuit-changers



W. L. BURTON.

CIRCUIT GRANGER.

'No. 104,928. Patented July 5, 1870.

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Letters Patent N 104,928, dated July 5, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN CIRCUIT-CHARGERS.

The Schedule referred to in the Letters Patent and making part 0! the lame.

I, Warrants LEIGH BURTON, of Richmond, in the State of'Virginia, have invented a new and improved Circuit-Changer for Electrical Apparatus, of which invcntion the following is a specification.

Nature and Objects of the Invention.

This invention is primarily though not exclusively intended for use in connection with my electrical heating-coil, for which a patent was issued to me on the 23d day of March, 1865), No. 88,006.

My present invention consists of a device by which the entire force oi a battery or other source of electricity may be made to act through different sections of the heating-coil in succession, by which means I am enabled to work a coil of large extent from a battery or machine of moderate power with good success.

Description of the Accompanying Drawing.

Figure 1 is a plan or top view of a circuit-changer illustrating my invention.

Figure 2 is an end view thereof.

Figure 3 is an end view of a part of the same illustrating a modification in construction.

Figure 4 is a plan or top View illustrating another modification in construction.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

l and X represent wires, one of which may be in constant electrical connection with a galvanic battery, or with a magneto-electric machine, or any other mcans'ot' producing an electric current, and the other with any adequate conductor through which a return current may be induced when the circuit is closed.

0 represents a metallic cylinder, to which a rotary motion may be imparted by a cord upon a pulley, ID, or by a crank or other means.

The cylinder 0 is kept in constant connection with the wire I through the medium of a brake, B, which rests on the shaft of the cylinder, or on an arm, A, projecting therefrom.

The cylinder 0 is provided with a number of studs, c c c c c 1:, one for each of the sections or circuits that it is desired to close and break by my apparatus, and the said studs are arranged spirally around the periphery of the cylinder in one or more coils, so that the sections or circuits may be closed successively and not simultaneously.

A lange of springs,'E l E E E 7, corresponding in number and position with the studs 0 and c, are mounted in turrets F, by which they are kept in constant electrical connection with a range of wires, G G G G G G, one for each spring, each of which wires conveys the electricity to one of the sect-ions of heating or other electrical apparatus to which mydevice may be applied.

The return current-from the respective sections is carried by wires 11 H H H H H, whichare in constant connect-ion with the wire N, either through the medium of turrets F, and binding-screws G and H, as shown in fig. 1, or by coiling the section-wires around the connecting-wire, as shown in fig. 4, in which latter case separate turrets for the section wires may be dispensed with, the connecting'wire N being held by turrets I I at the ends of the frame.

The wire N may be in one with the wire N, or may be connected therewith through the turret I.

Figure 3 illustrates a modification in the circuitclosing mechanism. In this case, instead of simple studs being employed on the cylinder to act'by frictional contact with the springs, the studs are provided with anti-friction wheels, 0, fig. 3, each'of. which, as it comes round, rolls upon a platinum platcye, one of which is attached to the face of each spring.

Figure 3 also shows an anti-friction roller applied to the end of the brake B, where itbears upon the arm A.

The principal object of these modifications is to relieve the parts from too rapid wear.

Operation.

Supposing this device to be applied-to anumber of my electrical heating-coils hereinbet'ore referred to, which it may be desirable to work from a single battery or electrical machine, it will be apparent that, as each sectional circuit is closed by the respective studs coming in contact with the corresponding spring, the whole force of the battery will act for the instant through that section of the coil. I am thus enabled, by dividing my heating-coil up into sections, to work a coil of very large extent with good effect with a battery or machine of moderate power.

The cylinder may be driven at a. very high velocity, several hundred revolutions per minute, so that the the cessation from each section will be scarcely perceptible, and still the entire force of thebattery or machine is made to act exclusively on each in turn.

Ola-inc.

The following is claimed as new:

A cylinder, 0, carrying studs or projections, so arranged as to change an electric circuit from one to another of a series of conductors, substantially as set forth.

WATKINS LEIGH BURTON. Witnesses:

P. B. Moons, G. W. Jones. 

